Miami Canes junior DT Nesta Silvera joins senior Jon Ford in returning for 2021 season

Susan Miller Degnan
·3 min read

“Let’s Run It Back’’ has become quite the popular phrase these days at the University of Miami.

And on Wednesday night, junior defensive tackle Nesta Jade Silvera became the most recent player to rep the future and pledged to “run it back with my brothers and take over the ACC and win a national championship.”

“I promised we was going to make the crib great,’’ Silvera said in a 58-second video, announcing his decision to return for another season instead of entering the NFL Draft, “and that’s what we’re going to do.’’

About three-and-a-half hours earlier, Silvera’s bookend starting defensive tackle, 6-5, 318-pound senior Jon Ford, announced he would return for the 2021 season — his fifth.

The NCAA is allowing all players to return next season for an extra year of eligibility, regardless of their year in school, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Think of it as a do-over of 2020, though the statistics from the ‘20 season will count.

Silvera, who earned All-ACC honorable mention in 2020, started 10 of his 11 games this season and amassed 35 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 pass breakup, a team-lead-typing 5 quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.

For his career after three seasons, Silvera has 67 tackles and 2 sacks.

Listed as 6-2 and 305 pounds, Silvera is a Plantation American Heritage graduate who missed the first four games of 2019 after undergoing foot surgery.

“His level of disruption, his energy, his motor I think is the thing that stands out,’’ UM coach Manny Diaz said after Silvera’s sack on Sept. 26 against Florida State.

Here’s what Ford posted in his statement on a video-filled graphic entitled “Let’s Run It Back’’ and posted on Instagram: “Being at the U has been a blessing, especially with all of the relationships I have built. This school is special to me and I will forever be thankful to the people that gave me the opportunity to attend this prestigious university. We are on a road of rebuilding and I would love to be a part of that.

“So with that being said, I will be returning for my last year of eligibility. #Let’sRunItBack.’’

UM’S offensive lineman Jonathan Ford (96) sacks FSU’s James Blackman (0) in the second quarter as the University of Miami host Florida State University Seminoles at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Saturday, September 26, 2020.
UM’S offensive lineman Jonathan Ford (96) sacks FSU’s James Blackman (0) in the second quarter as the University of Miami host Florida State University Seminoles at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Saturday, September 26, 2020.

Added Ford: “I deserve so much more.’’

“Run It Back” was first used by fifth-year senior quarterback D’Eriq King on Dec. 26 in his announcement that he is returning in 2021.

Ford has seen action all four years he has been at Miami. In 2019 as a junior he started all 13 games and totaled 18 tackles with 3 1/2 tackles for loss and three sacks, with a forced fumble.

In 2020, Ford started nine of his 10 games, and was unavailable for Duke. He totaled 19 tackles, 1 1/2 tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry.

Ford is from Fort Lauderdale and graduated from Dillard High.

In addition to King, Ford joins leading receiver Mike Harley as one of three seniors who have committed to returning next season instead of entering the NFL Draft. UM redshirt junior safety Bubba Bolden, redshirt junior punter Lou Hedley and junior running back Cam’ron Harris previously announced they’re returning.

UM junior tight end Brevin Jordan and redshirt junior defensive end Jaelan Phillips previously announced they would forgo their remaining eligibility to enter the draft.